Arthur Albert "Doc" Irwin, Shortstop, Philadelphia, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This is a baseball card of Arthur Albert "Doc" Irwin, a shortstop for Philadelphia, created around 1887 by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge Cigarettes. These cards, distributed with tobacco products, offer a glimpse into the burgeoning world of professional baseball and its commodification. The image presents Irwin in his uniform, bat in hand, embodying an ideal of masculine athleticism, but also one of commodity. In this era baseball's stars were becoming cultural figures, however, their images also served to sell a product linked to addiction and health risks, which disproportionately affected working-class communities. This intertwining of fame, commerce, and health raises questions about the values and priorities of the time. Consider the layers of representation at play here: a man, his sport, his image, and his association with a brand, all circulating within a society undergoing rapid industrialization and cultural change. These cards offer us an intimate insight into the evolving dynamics of American identity.